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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Kenya's Youth Affairs and Sports CS Ababu Namwamba and NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams, with President William Ruto as a witness.
Kenya has entered into a transformative partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) that promises to revolutionize the world of basketball in the country.
The deal, spearheaded by Kenyan President William Ruto, was unveiled during his visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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Under the partnership, the NBA will to open an office in Nairobi in November.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Kenya's Youth Affairs and Sports CS Ababu Namwamba and NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams, with President William Ruto as a witness.
One of the key highlights of the agreement is the commitment to grassroots talent development under the "Talanta Hela Initiative."
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This initiative will focus on nurturing talent in schools and communities, including training teachers as certified basketball coaches and scouts.
Additionally, the partnership aims to improve basketball infrastructure across Kenya. This includes the construction of basketball courts in schools, communities, and neighborhoods, providing accessible facilities for young and aspiring basketball talents.
An elite arena will also be developed to host top-level competitions like the Basketball Africa League [BAL].
President Ruto expressed his enthusiasm for this transformative partnership, emphasizing its role in developing basketball infrastructure and talent in Kenya.
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He lauded the NBA's decision to establish its presence in Kenya, marking the first time the NBA has set camp in an Anglophone country after its extensive involvement in Francophone countries on the continent.
“The signing of an agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA) will facilitate the development of basketball infrastructure in Kenya, with the capacity to host top-level competitions,” Ruto wrote on his Twitter page.
Paul Otula, the President of the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF), echoed the sentiment, stating that this move would not only benefit Kenya but also the entire Zone Five region.
“As KBF, we want to assure the government that we will do all we can to ensure the country benefits from this noble venture.”
“The NBA has done much for Francophone countries and it's first time setting camp in an Anglophone country.”
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“This means a lot to us and we would love to that the President and the Ministry of Sports,” he said.
Kenya's inclusion in this partnership aligns with its recognition as one of the fastest-growing basketball nations by the World Congress for Basketball.
The NBA has a history of supporting basketball development in Africa, most notably through the creation of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in collaboration with FIBA in 2019.
With this new partnership, Kenya is poised to take its place on the global basketball map and inspire a new generation of basketball stars.
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